CAPE TOWN: Brendon McCullum and Dean Brownlie hit half-centuries as New Zealand fought back on the second day of the first Test against South Africa at Newlands yesterday.
New Zealand were 169 for four in their second innings at the close, still 133 short of avoiding an innings defeat. McCullum made 51 and Brownlie was undefeated on 69.
New Zealand’s bowlers and fielders set the tone with an improved performance, restricting South Africa to 97 runs and claiming five wickets in 31.2 overs before South Africa declared at 347 for eight, a lead of 302.
AB de Villiers made 67 for South Africa before being dismissed shortly before the declaration. Trent Boult and Chris Martin both took three wickets for New Zealand.
Visions of the first day collapse were revived when Martin Guptill was dismissed by Dale Steyn in the first over of the second innings. But McCullum and Kane Williamson dug in to blunt South Africa’s renowned pace attack, although they only added 29 before Williamson was caught at gully off Jacques Kallis.
McCullum and Brownlie counter-attacked, scoring 77 in the first ten overs after the interval as both Vernon Philander and Steyn took some punishment.
Brownlie was dropped at gully by Dean Elgar off Steyn when he had 23 and again one run later in the following over by Alviro Petersen, also at gully, off Philander.
McCullum made 51 before was leg before wicket to left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, bowling for the first time in the match. REUTERS
